Bengaluru Airport (BLR) Guide

Before security

• Entry: boarding pass/ticket plus photo ID checked at terminal entry gates.
• Digi Yatra face-recognition lanes are active at both T1 and T2 — register in the app to save 15–20 minutes in line.
• Web check-in beforehand lets you go straight to bag drop.

Good to know

• T2’s garden-themed layout is beautiful but large — allow extra walking time to far gates.
• The BLR Airport app (“Pulse”) now supports indoor navigation and real-time flight status — genuinely useful in a terminal this big.
• The Namma Metro airport line is still under construction (targeted 2026–27) — don’t plan your departure around it until BMRC confirms it’s live.

In the arrivals hall (T2)

• SIM cards: Airtel and Jio counters in T2 international arrivals — bring your passport and a photo.
• Visa-on-arrival kiosks are available at T2 for eligible nationalities.
• Sleeping pods are available in the arrivals area for long layovers.

Meeting someone?

• Greeters wait outside the terminal exits — entry to the building requires a ticket.
• Ride kiosks in the arrivals lobby let you book Ola/Uber without needing your own phone signal.

Indian citizens

• Immigration applies to international trips only — passport, boarding pass, and destination visa where needed.
• Fast Track Immigration (FTI-TTP) e-gates are available at T2 for registered Indian citizens — enrol online in advance.
• Returning residents get a duty-free allowance (general goods up to a rupee limit, plus limited alcohol and tobacco) — check current CBIC limits before shopping abroad.

OCI holders & PRs abroad

• OCI card holders use visa-free entry with a valid foreign passport + OCI card; FTI-TTP fast-track is open to OCI holders too.
• Indian-origin travellers with foreign PR (e.g. US green card) but no OCI need a visa/e-visa like other foreign nationals.

Foreign nationals

• e-Visa holders: follow the dedicated e-Visa lanes at T2 immigration — carry the printed ETA approval.
• BLR also runs live international DigiYatra trials (with IndiGo, IATA and the DigiYatra Foundation, as of April 2026) — check if this applies to your flight.
• Customs: green channel if nothing to declare; currency above prescribed limits (foreign cash beyond ~US$5,000, or higher total instruments) must be declared.

Lounges

• 080 Lounge — BLR’s signature lounge brand (named for Bengaluru’s phone code), with locations in both T1 and T2, each themed around a different facet of the “Garden City.” Library, cinema pod, buffet. Buyable directly if you don’t have card access.
• Plaza Premium Lounge (T1) — the reliable contract lounge for early domestic departures.
• Air India Lounge (T2 domestic + international) — for AI First/Business and Star Alliance Gold.
• Card note: bank lounge programmes changed across India in late 2025 — confirm your card’s current access before relying on it.

ATMs & forex

• 24/7 INR/USD ATMs are available in both terminals.
• Currency exchange counters operate landside in both T1 and T2 — airport rates carry a premium, so change only what you need.
• India runs heavily on UPI; a working international card plus a small cash reserve covers most travellers.

Shopping

T2’s duty-free covers luxury goods, perfumes and electronics; T1 leans toward souvenirs and local goods. For genuinely Karnataka souvenirs, look for Mysore silk sarees and sandalwood soaps — both sold airside.

Food

T2’s dining area is designed like a bell jar with hanging gardens above the tables — striking even by airport-dining standards. Options range from South Indian classics (dosa counters are excellent here) to global fast food and cafés. Pre-security outlets are generally cheaper.

Restrooms & essentials

Restrooms are frequent and well-signed in both terminals with accessible facilities. T2 adds baby-care rooms, multi-faith prayer rooms, free Wi-Fi (“BLR_Free_WiFi,” up to 30 Mbps), 24/7 pharmacies, and marked smoking zones after security.

The basics

T1 and T2 are on the same campus but roughly 5 km apart — you cannot walk between them. A free shuttle bus runs every 10–15 minutes and takes about 10 minutes. A connected walkway between the terminals is planned as part of the Phase 2 expansion, but isn’t open yet (targeted by 2028).

Connecting flights

International→domestic (or vice versa) on separate tickets: you must collect baggage, exit, and take the shuttle to the other terminal — keep at least 2.5–3 hours. The “Connections by BLR” program (2026) added clearer wayfinding signage specifically to make this transfer less confusing.

Metro (coming, not yet live)

The Namma Metro Blue Line airport extension is under construction, targeted to open in phases through 2026–27, connecting via Hebbal to the rest of the city. Do not plan around it until BMRC (bmrc.co.in) confirms it’s operational — timelines have shifted repeatedly.

Bus

• BMTC Vayu Vajra (Volvo AC) buses run 24/7 from both terminals to Majestic (KIAS bus station), Whitefield, Electronic City and other hubs — around ₹220–310 one-way.
• Journey time: 60–90 minutes off-peak, up to 2 hours in heavy traffic.

Taxi & ride-hailing

• Prepaid taxi counters in both arrivals halls offer fixed fares to MG Road, Whitefield and other key points — pay at the counter, no negotiation.
• Uber/Ola from marked pickup zones; MG Road runs roughly ₹600–1,300 depending on time and demand.
• Distance varies a lot by destination — Whitefield, Electronic City, Koramangala and Hebbal all have very different drive times, so check live traffic before you commit to a mode.

Under 30 min away

• Nandi Hills — a popular hilltop viewpoint and sunrise spot, one of the closer genuine attractions to BLR (~30–40 min).
• Devanahalli Fort — a small, quiet 16th-century fort right near the airport, birthplace of Tipu Sultan.

Worth it with 6+ hours

• Lalbagh Botanical Garden & Cubbon Park — the green heart of the “Garden City” itself, but 60–90 min into the city.
• MG Road & Church Street — Bengaluru’s cafés, boutiques and nightlife strip.
• Bangalore Palace — Tudor-style royal palace, worth it if you have real time to spend.

Closest to the airport

• Nandi Hills’ Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple — one of Karnataka’s oldest temples, near Nandi Hills (~35–40 min).
• Devanahalli’s local temples — several small, peaceful temples near the fort, minutes from the airport.

Bengaluru’s icons

• ISKCON Bangalore — one of the largest, most elaborate Krishna temple complexes in India.
• Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi) — historic Nandi bull shrine in Basavanagudi.
• St. Mary’s Basilica — one of India’s oldest churches, a Minor Basilica in the city centre.
• Jamia Masjid — Bengaluru’s principal mosque, near City Market.

Lost something at the airport?

• A 24×7 Lost & Found counter operates near T1 arrivals — report in person if possible, or check BIAL’s official channels for the current process.
• Baggage help desks near baggage claim handle delayed or damaged luggage separately from lost personal items.
• Left something on the plane? That goes to your airline, not the airport — contact the airline directly.

Airline customer service

Use only the contact details on airlines’ official websites — fake “customer care numbers” planted in search results are a common scam in India:

• Air India — airindia.com → Contact Us
• IndiGo — goindigo.in → Contact Us (24/7 chat in-app)
• SpiceJet — spicejet.com → Contact Us
• Akasa Air — akasaair.com → Support
• International carriers: use the airline’s own site, or their T2 ticketing counters at departures level.

At the airport

Both terminals have medical facilities with on-call doctors — ask any airport staff member for the nearest medical room. India’s all-in-one emergency number is 112 (ambulance also via 102/108).

Major hospitals within reach

• Akash Hospital, Devanahalli — the closest general hospital to the airport itself.
• Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal — full-service private hospital, ~30–40 min toward the city.
• Manipal Hospital, Hebbal / Old Airport Road — large multi-speciality network, ~35–45 min.

Major missions

The U.S. Consulate General, British Deputy High Commission, and consulates of Germany, France, Japan, South Korea and others operate in and around the city centre and Lavelle Road area.

Before you go

• Nearly all consulates require an appointment — check the official website; walk-ins are usually only for citizen emergencies.
• Most consular sections work weekday mornings only.
• For a lost passport you’ll typically also need a police report (Karnataka Police supports online lost-property complaints).

Physical stores

• Devanahalli town — pharmacies and convenience stores minutes from the airport, though selection is limited given the semi-rural setting.
• For a fuller supermarket, expect a 25–35 minute drive toward Hebbal or Yelahanka.

The shortcut: delivery apps

Staying at an airport-area hotel? Quick-commerce apps — Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart — deliver groceries, toiletries, chargers, and medicine, though coverage this far from central Bengaluru can be less reliable than in-city — check availability at your specific address first.

Hotel dining & bars

Taj Bangalore and other airport-area hotels in Devanahalli welcome non-guests and are the reliable choice for a proper meal or a drink before a late flight, given how little else is immediately around the terminals.

Local Devanahalli options

Simple local restaurants around Devanahalli town serve Karnataka home-style food at a fraction of hotel prices — good for a quick, honest meal if you have time before a domestic flight.

Worth the drive

Bengaluru’s famous café and pub culture (Indiranagar, Koramangala, Church Street) is genuinely excellent — but 45–75 minutes away, so only realistic on a long layover with a car booked both ways.